Each year the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance hosts the State Arbor Day Celebration at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing.  Schools from the Greater Lansing Area are invited to participate in a day of education and fun.  Second and third grade students participate in hands-on natural resource stations that help teach them about trees and their ecosystems.  The students are also given free access to Potter Park Zoo on the day of the celebration. 

Helpful Volunteers

   Unloading chairs for the activity stations.                  Setting up tents for the activity stations.

   Unloading tables for the activity stations.              Setting up registration table for presenters

Arrival of Students

   Smokey the Bear welcomes the arriving students.

Activity Stations

Students learning about forest health.                        Students learn about reptiles.

Students examining macro invertebrates.            Students get an up close encounter with wildlife.

Tree Planting Ceremony

 Jason Colthorp as our Master of Ceremony.  Eager Students attend the lunch time ceremony.

Juggler tosses bowling balls over Jason Colthorp.  Cross cut saw race between Lansing Board of Water and Light and City of Lansing-Forestry.

Ayles Tree Service plants the annual ceremonial tree.  Class chosen to mulch the tree from Kendon Elementary.

"It was the best day of my life because we got a tree at the end of the day."-Student

"The best part was the ceremony because it was funny."-Student

"Everything! It was a perfect mix of fun and education.The game type activity stations were a lot of fun but the kids also enjoyed examining the trees."-Teacher

"We had lots of parents and they overwhelmingly agreed this was a great field trip, several saying it was the best they've attended. Thank you."-Teacher

Thank you to everyone who helps make the  Arbor Day Celebration a huge success!!